James Montagu Travers Butler, the son of Charles William Butler and Beatrice (nee Travers) was born on the 9 August 1896. He never married. He was educated at Hutchins School and gained a B.Sc at the University of Tasmania in 1917. He gained an aviator's licence and worked as a draughtsman in the Drawing Office at the Electrolytic Zinc Company from 1919 to 1920, until going to Oxford University to study Engineering. He trained at the Central Flying School, Laverton to join the Australian Flying Corp, AIF, however the war ended while he was still training. He was admitted to the bar in 1928, having been articled to W. F. D. Butler in 1923. He lived at Ashfield, Sandy Bay at his parents home, and later lived with his sisters Beatrice and Marjorie at Red Chapel Avenue, Sandy Bay. He was a prominent player of Royal Tennis. The letters are written to his family rom the Central Flying School, Laverton (15/04/1918 - 22/11/1918), from England and Europe (06/05/1920 - 01/12/1921), from Smithton (10/06/1930 - 08/10/1930) and from Sandy Bay (06/06/1933 - c1950's). James Butler was cremated at Cornelian Bay cemetery on the 27 March 1973 aged 76.

These records are part of the holdings of the Tasmanian Archives